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I got this computer from a neighbor. I had pity on them because they really need the money. Not sure what the history of this computer is but I know the woman has 4 small boys.

The HDD was trash. No program I used would recognize it at all, so I replaced it.

I tried to install KUbuntu from DVD, which failed. It would get to the point of loading the video driver and the screen would just flash for hours and hours. I could move the mouse around a black screen, and nothing more.

I then installed Windows 7 without a problem... but I don't much care for Windows so I tried to install Linux Mint, which also failed. I got to a blank white screen and just stayed there for several hours until I finally gave up and pulled the plug.

I've tried 4 different DVD-Drives, with same results. I installed new IDE ribbon cables with same results.

Right now, I'm about to turn it off...It's been on all night doing a 1 hour test in PC Doctor. It's stuck at 95% on the DVD test. I've been up for about an hour now and it's been on 95% since I got up...but that should not matter...

When I went to bed it was on about 83% and had been working for about 2 hours.

Yes, by Channel 1 I mean Primary IDE, and by Channel 2 I mean Seconday IDE. I don't know why I said Channel instead of Primary or Secondary. The RAM is new and passes all tests using PC Doctor, but after I saw your reply I tried different RAM with same results. I'm wondering if the inboard IDE controller is bad. I will have a PCI diagnostic card in a few days to run other tests. If it does turn out to be the inboard IDE controller then I will order a PCI IDE Controller.

Have you tried different software? I haven't used PC Doctor in well over ten years so I don't know much about its modern version. If it is a very old version it may not be suitable for DVD optical drives.